Cracker-cutter.



H. P. MUNUTT & 0. E. BALLINGER.

GRAGKER GUTTER. AiPLIoATIoN FILED rmmv. 191s.

Patented July '7, 1914 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

H. F. MGNUTT G. E. BALLINGER.

GRAGKER GUTTER.

APPLICATION FILED man. 1913.

Llo.; Pantea July 7, 19m

2 SHEETS-SHBBT 2.

'V`HE NORRIS PETERS CO., PHOTO-LITHO. $VASHINGT0N, D. C-

L FTD STATES PATENT OFFCE.

HIRAIVI F. MONUTI AND CHARLES E. BALLINGER, OF RICHMOND, INDIANA.

CRACKER-CUTTER.

Speccaton oi' Letters Patent.

Patented July 7, 1914.

To IZZ whom t may concern Be it known that we, HIRAM F. MCNUTT and CHARLES E. BALLINGER, both citizens of the United States, residing in the city of Richmond, in the county of Wayne and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cracker-Cutters, of which the following is a full, clear, and comprehensive specification and exposition, being such as will enable others to malle and use the same with exactitude.

Our invention relates to certain specific improvements in cutter-heads for cracker machines, essential to a full understanding of this invention, therefore only such parts of the machine are shown which are necessary to a full explanation of the operation of the cutter-heads and of the improvements which are Shown herein.

The specific improvements which we have invented will be brought out in the course of the following description, the preferred manner for their construction and arrangement being shown in the accompanying two sheets of drawings, in which- Figure l shows an underside or face view of the face-plate, together with certain of the devices which operate therethrough or are connected therewith. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the die-plate, yshowing our means for connecting certainv of the devices thereto. Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the cutter head, also showing an edge view of the carrier-belt, a portion of the table, and the cross-arm of the machine in section. Fig. i is a vertical section taken centrally through one of the twelve cutter mechanisms, for instance on line Ll-1l of Fig. l. Fig. 5 is a vertical central section taken through one of the twelve cutter mechanisms, at right-angles to that of Fig. ll, for instance on line 5-5 of Fig. l. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the upper portion of one of the twelve peripheral cutters or devices. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of one of the twelve milling-dies or devices. Fig. 8 is a lpersiiective view showing various devices and parts of one of the twelve cutter mechanisms, including the clearing plunger, initial die, and dotters. And Fig. 9 is an isometrical detail view of one member of the twelvek pairs of clearers.

Similar indices denote like parts throughout the several views.

the machine itself being a non-` In order that our invention and its advantages may be more fully understood we will now take up a detailed description thereof, in which we willset forth the construction as clearly and as comprehensively as we may.

In order that the description may be simpliied we will refer to the mechanism, with which our invention is to be used, as the machine, only a few parts of which are shown herein; we will refer to all of the parts, collectively, which are located between the stops G, which form stationary parts of the machine, and the cross-arm D, which is a movable part of the machine, as the cutter-head; to each of the twelve groups of parts, shown in Fig. l, as the devices; and to each member of the several `devices as the peripheralcutter, the clearers, the milling-die, the initial-die, the cutters and the plunger or clearer-head.

The cutter head includes the face-plate A, same having a plurality of apertures a formed therethrough, as shown in Fig. l. Extending out from near each corner of plate A are the ears a. And projecting out from each end of said plate il, beyond said ears, are the tongues A4.

Letter B denotes the body-plate of the cutter-head, same being of substantially the same size as the face-plate, with the exception of the tongues A. The under face of the body-plate is located parallel with the face-plate, rlChe sides of the plate B are formed with upwardly extending flanges and enlarged corner portions, in order to add strength thereto. Extending across each end of the plate B, and secured to the corner portions thereof, are the yokes C, same being detachably secured by the screws Z), as shown in Fig. 3.

Letter D denotes the cross-arm of the machine, same being detachably secured to the two yokes by the bolts cl. Said cross-arm extends beyond the yohes at each end and thel projecting portions thereof are slidably mounted in vertical guide-way of the machine whereby it may be moved up and down carrying the entire cutter-head up and down therewith. By the above it iS apparent that the cutter-head is suspended over the surface of the table E. over which latter travels the carrier-belt F, the latter operating in a direction at right-angles to the length of the plate A.

Extending up from each edgeof the table E is a flange each carrying one of the stops springs I, the upper ends of said springs be.

ing seated in cavities formed in the under face of the plate B.

Numeral 1 denotes the die-plate, same being slightly less in length than that of the plate A, and of only about one-half the width thereof, and it is located centrally of and above the bodyplateB,` as shown in Fig. 3. An aperture is formed through the die-plate 1 near each corner thereof, in

which are disposed the threaded and reduced upper ends of the standards 2, the shoulders of said standards contacting with the under face of the die-plate. The'lower ends of said kstandards 2 are rigidly secured to thel face-plate A., there being corresponding apertures formed through the bodyplate B through whichv said standards are freely` disposed. The said plate 1 is removably secured to the upper ends of said standards by the nuts 3, as shown.

upper face of the plate'B, as in Fig. 3,

thereby limiting the downward movement of plate A beyond a certain dista-nce with relation to the plate B, the springs I normally retaining said plates A and B apart, as shown in Fig. 3. y

We will now describe the cutter devices, and as they are all identical with each other a description of one will answer for. all. Each of said devices is made up of a plurality of parts,'-wherein numeral 5 denotes the peripheral cutter, that is the main cutter which cuts out the form of the cracker, same being tubular and adapted to lit inside its aperture a of the plate A, 'the lower or cutting edge of cutt-er 5 being formedto cut the dough of proper size for a cracker. Extending out opposite to eachother, slightly below the upper end of the cutter 5, are the ears 5 and 5. The upper end of the cutter 5 isv adapted to contact with the under face of the plat-e B, to which it is rigidly secured as hereinafter set forth. Located around inside the cutter 5 are the two segmental clearers 6 and 7 the two extending almost entirely around and adjoinine,- the inner periphery of the lcutter 5. Vhen the cutter=head is raised then the lower edges of the clearers will be substantally'even with the lower edge of the cutter Extending up from the center of each of the clearers 6 and 7 and formed integral therewith are flat stems, 8 and 9 respectively, each having a reduced tongue portion, 10 and 11 respectively, on its upper end, thereby forming shoulders e and e,

shown only in Fig. 9. Said stems 8 and 9 aperture formed through each tongue 10 'and y 11 for the key or Cotter-pin H which is adapted to lie at on the upper face of the "580 plate l.

Numeral 12 denotes the milling-die, which is in the nature of a ring ortube, fitting around insidethe clearers and 7. Said die 12 has a lower impression-face which is usually staggered or crimped. Extending out opposite to each other from' the upper edge ofthe die 12 are the two ears 12` and 12 through each of which is a sorew-aperture 12L and 12b, respectively. Extending down from the upper edge of the die 12, more than one-half the length thereof and midway between the ears 12 and 12, vare the relatively large notches 12c and 12d, to

5 provide room for the arms 17' and 18, here- Bigidly secured in the center and near4 f each 'end of plate l, and extending down- E ward therefrom, are the two stops 4, their l lower ends being adapted to impinge the inafter referred to.

Numeral 13denotes a guide-plate,through the outer portions of which are formed the two screw-apertures 13L and 13b, whichare same distance apart as are the'apertures 5a and 5b, and also the same distance apart as are apertures 12?l and 12b.

Secured to the center of plate 13, by the screw 14:, andextending down at right angles to said plate 13, is the initial-die 15.

Rigidly secured to the plate 13 are the four dotters or punches J, K, L and M, same being located near the four corners of the die ica 15, extending downward parallel therewith,

and projecting a short ldistance therebelow, as shown in Fig. 8.

Formed through the plate 13, on each side and central` of the screw 14., and extending parallel with the length of the plate 13, are the two slots 13 and 13.

' Numeral 16 denotes the plunger or clearerhead which fits inside of the milling-die 12, as shown in Fig. 1. Extending up from' rio opposite sides of the plunger 16 are the two arms 17 and 18, which are adapted tooperate loosely in the slots 13 and 13, respectively, and they also extend up through suitable apertures therefor in the plate B.

The upper end portions of said arms are reduced to form the respective tongues 19 and 20, thereby forming` shoulders y, `as shown only in Fig. 8. Said tongues 19 and 2O extend through apertures f `formed therefor through the plate 1, with the shoulders y engaging the under-.face of said plate 1.

Apertures are formed `horizontally through the,y tongues 19 andy 20 to receive there-` through the key H, as shown in Fig. 4.

A square aperture m is formed vertically through the center of the plunger 16, in

which may operate the lower portion of the die 15. Also four round apertures s are formed through the plunger 16 through which operate the( four dotters J, K, L and 'lVL Letters N and P denote the two main retaining screws, samev being adapted to pass through the apertures 13a-13b; 12a; 12b; and 52-5), whereby the plate 13, the die 12, and the cutter 5, are all removably securable to the plate B, as shown in Fig. 5.

From the above it is apparent that the cutter 5; the milling die 12; the letter-die 15; and the dotters J, K, L and M, are all suspended from and are carried by `the body-plate B. Also that clearers 6 and 7,

and the plunger 16, are suspended from and` are carried by the die-plate 1.

Heretofore it has been customary to form the clearers 6 and 7, and their stems 8 and 9, of wire, which frequently became bent and out of position and frequently damaged the edge of the cutter 5, or the edge of the milling-die 12. Also it has been customary to thread the tongues 10 and 11 and 19 and 20, securing each in place by a nut, which nuts frequently worked loose, necessitating a great amount of time to remove and replace the parts thereto attached, while in our con struction all of the parts of each device, which are connected to the plate 1, are secured by the single Cotter-pin H, thereby making the parts more secure, facilitating their removal and replacement, when required for repairs, and reducing the expense connected with the repairs, each of the several parts of each device being thus adapted to be removed and replaced with the removal of other parts of the device. Also heretofore it has been customary to connect the cutter 5, the milling-die 12, and the plate 13, to the plate B each by independent means, whereas in this instance they are all connected thereto by the two screws N and P, thereby simplifying the construction and facilitating their removal and replacement, making the construction more compact and making the parts more secure.

In practice the members 6 and 7 of each pair of clearers may be-made integral with each other whereby they will form a single ring or band in place of the two segmental portions as shown.

It will be apparent that when thev cutterhead is lifted up that the lower edges or faces of the cutter 5, the clearers 6 and 7, and the plunger 16 will all be practically Hush with each other and they will be practically even with the under face of the plate A. Also the edges of the milling-die 12 and the dotters J, K, L and M will be only on the conveyer F, the projections A of the y plate A will strike the stops G thereby preventing further `downward movement thereof, and also of the clearers 6 and 7, and the plunger16, but allowing-the cutter 5 tocontinue to move downward, against the resiliency of the springs I, until it contacts withth'e conveyer F, thereby cutting out the form of the cracker from. the dough to be carried by the conveyer..` At the same time the dies 12 and 15, and the dotters, will be impressed into the dough of the cracker. After the above the cutter-head will vbe moved upward, and as the plate A is released from the stops G it `will again move away from the body-plate B, thereby causing the cutter 5, the dies l2 and 15, and

the dotters, to be drawn in, or up with relation to the plate A, thereby causing the clearers 6 and 7 and the plunger 16 to push the cracker oif from device and causing it to remain upon the conveyer.

It should be understood that various styles and shapes of cutters may be employed depending upon the kind of cracker to ybe made, each cutter-head'being arranged for making a particular shape or size cracker, a plurality of cutter-heads being adapted for each machine, each being adapted to be interchangeably secured to the cross-arm D, substantially as shown. rlherefore this invention is not limited to the particular size or shape of the devices shown.

Having now fully shown and describedv our invention, what we claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. In a cracker cutting machine, a faceplate having an aperture formed therethrough, a body-plate located abovel and spaced from the said face-plate, a die-plate located above and spaced from the bodyplate and having two pairs of slots therethrough which are parallel with each other,` a cutter fitting said aperture in the faceplate and extending up and secured to the body-plate, clearers fitting inside the cutter, stems extending upward from the clearers and contacting with the die-plate, tongues projecting up fromthe stems through and beyond they slots in the dieplate, a plunger located inside the curvature of the clearers, arms extending up from the plunger through the body-plate tol the dieplate, tongues extending up from they arms through and beyond their slots in the dieplate, and a single pin passing through corresponding apertures in the -tongues and resting flat on `the surface ofthe die-plate, all substantially as set forth.

iso

I *i 2. In 4a cracker cutting machine, a faoe-"l plate having an aperturev therethrough,` ai

\ body-.plate located above andl spaced froni the face-plate, a die-plate llocated above and spacedl from the body-plate and havinggtwo sets of slotsl the.rethrough7 a 'cutter fittingf the said. aperture in the face-plate and extending` upward and secured. to thebody-I plate, a pair otclearers fitting inside the cutter, a stem extendingupward from each v clearer- 'and 'normally contacting with the;

` under-face of the die-.plate,ltongues extendf ing up from said-stems through andI beyond their respective slots inthe die-plate, a plun.-

body-plate to the dieepl'ate, tongues extend# 1 i' ing up from said arms through and eXtend- 5 ing beyond their respective slots inthe die `plate,'and a cotter-pin passing horizontally and removably through .correspondingapertures formed through all of the said tongues atA which project above the die-plate with the :5;

Asaid cotterepin resting lat on the top of `the die-plate andadapted to retain-the clearers andthe plunger inoperative positiolnall "substantially as setiforth i l In testimony whereof we have hereunto 5:., subscribedjour names to this specification in the; presence of two subscribing witnesses.

:HIRAM MONUTT; CHARLES' E. BALLlNGER,

`ViVitnesses: ROBERT YV. HANDLE, "R E RANDLE.

' 'l Washington, iD. G.y

" Copiesv of this patent mayrbe obtained `:fory live cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, 

